Minneapolis, MN

Need a vacation? These are the top 10 destinations for Sioux Falls travelers.

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Need a vacation? These are the top 10 destinations for Sioux Falls travelers.

Every day, an average of 1,750 travelers from the Sioux Falls metro area hop on or off a plane.

But where are they headed? We took a look at the top 10 most popular destinations for travelers from the Sioux Falls metro area — as well as how much a one-way ticket cost, on average. All figures are averages from a 12-month period ending in March 2023.

A very important caveat — these numbers come from the Sioux Falls Regional Airport’s “Leakage and Retention Study.”

What the study is examining is a phenomenon called “airport leakage,” which is not as gross as it sounds. It refers to someone in an airport’s local market who has instead driven to a different airport to catch their flight.

In the case of Sioux Falls, the three other airports looked at are Omaha’s Eppley Airfield, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and the Rapid City Regional Airport. Those four airports combined represent 99.1% of the market share for Sioux Falls travelers across all destinations.

1. Phoenix/Mesa

Phoenix/Mesa is by far the most popular destination for Sioux Falls travelers, with 204 passengers per day in either direction for a total of 148,900 across the four airports, paying $150 per ticket.

Of those travelers, 182.8 per day choose Sioux Falls — which also boasted the lowest one-way ticket price at $147.

11.2 customers drove to Omaha for a $182 ticket, 2.4 customers headed to Minneapolis for a $169 ticket and 1.3 customers went across the state to Rapid City for a $149 ticket.

2. Denver

An average of 135.2 Sioux Falls travelers come and go from Denver each day, with 98,662 in total paying an average of $124.

An average of 129.8 people used the Sioux Falls airport, where the average one-way ticket price was $124.

Another 3.6 customers drove to Omaha, saving just a bit by paying an average of $120. 0.9 customers got a $130 ticket in Minneapolis, and 0.6 customers paid $182 to fly out of Rapid City.

3. Las Vegas

Las Vegas sees an average of 113.3 passengers to and from Sioux Falls per day, for a total of 82,730 travelers paying an average of $117.

108.7 of those passengers came through the Sioux Falls airport, paying an average of $116 for a one-way ticket.

That’s quite a bit lower than the 2.7 customers who paid $154 to fly out of Omaha, or the 1.9 customers who left from Minneapolis for $138.

4. Orlando/Sanford

90.2 Sioux Falls travelers per day head go to or from the Orlando/Sanford area, for a total of 65,830 travelers paying an average of $187 for a one-way ticket to a much warmer climate.

71.5 of them go through Sioux Falls, where ticket prices average at $190.

7.3 customers opted for Omaha and a $174 ticket, while 10.1 travelers went to Minneapolis for a $173 ticket. And 0.3 customers per day headed to Rapid City, where they paid $324 to fly to Sin City.

5. Los Angeles Basin

Every day 67.5 Sioux Falls travelers are going to or from the Los Angeles area, with the 49,269 customers paying an average of $201 for the ticket.

57.9 of those travelers use the Sioux Falls airport, with an average ticket price of $200.

Another 5.7 customers paid $203 after heading to Omaha, with 2.7 customers choosing Minneapolis. The 0.3 customers choosing Rapid City again paid slightly more at $282.

6. Nashville

65.5 Sioux Falls travelers a day fly in or out of Nashville, totaling 47,810 customers who pay an average of $108 per ticket.

60.9 of them are using the Sioux Falls airport, where the average ticket costs just $103.

1.8 customers drive to Omaha and pay $158 per ticket, and Minneapolis sees 2.5 customers a day paying $155. Rapid City again sees 0.3 customers per day forking over $304 to head to Nashville.

7. Dallas/Ft. Worth

The Dallas/Ft. Worth area sees 64.1 Sioux Falls travelers come and go each day, for a total of 46,791 customers paying an average of $255 for a one-way ticket.

55.9 of them use the Sioux Falls airport, where a ticket averages $264.

That’s quite a bit higher than the price paid by the 6.8 customers who go to Omaha, where ticket prices averaged $183, or Minneapolis, where the 0.8 customers per day paid $215. Even in Rapid City, the 0.6 customers per day from the Sioux Falls area paid $260 for their trip.

8. Chicago

63.3 Sioux Falls travelers go to and from Chicago per day, for a total of 46,195 people paying an average of $191 for a one-way ticket.

58.8 of them are using the Sioux Falls airport, where a ticket averages $194.

The 1.4 customers who make the trip from Omaha are looking at a $147 ticket, while Minneapolis has 1.7 customers who paid an average of $142. The 0.6 customers using the Rapid City airport paid $197.

9. Tampa/St. Petersburg

58 Sioux Falls travelers come and go from the Tampa/St. Petersburg area each day, for a total of 42,318 travelers who paid an average of $158 for their ticket.

For the 48.1 of them who used the Sioux Falls airport, that came out to a $157 ticket.

7.8 of them went to Omaha instead, where ticket prices averaged $154. 2.1 customers opted for Minneapolis, paying an average of $190.

10. South Florida

And finally, 54.7 Sioux Falls travelers are going to and from South Florida per day, a total of 39,944 people paying an average of $199 for their ticket.

44.7 of them used Sioux Falls, where ticket prices averaged $193.

The 4.5 travelers who went for Omaha paid $235 on average, and the 5.2 who used Minneapolis averaged $217.

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Minneapolis, MN

Xcel gets partial rate increase approved, Minneapolis residents hit with added cost

Published

5 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Xcel gets partial rate increase approved, Minneapolis residents hit with added cost

Energy users will see an increase in their Xcel Energy bills as the Public Utilities Commission has approved a rate hike.

The commission’s decision includes an interim rate increase for all Xcel Energy customers, raising bills by an average of $5.84. Additionally, the Minneapolis City Council approved an increase to its gas and electric franchise fee, adding about $1 a month to energy bills.

“I don’t think it’s sustainable, right? We’re going to have to figure out a solution,” said Seton McClellan, a Minneapolis homeowner, expressing concern over the rising costs of homeownership.

McClellan also mentioned that property taxes are one of the toughest financial burdens, and now energy bills are becoming more challenging. He worries about the payoff as the bills continue to rise.

“Here’s a tax that I’m paying, and I might not ever get a benefit for it,” McClellan said, referring to the franchise fees used to retrofit homes for energy efficiency.

Despite some opposition, the fee increase passed the council with a 10-3 vote and has significant community support.

Council member Katie Cashman emphasized the importance of addressing climate change. “The cost of not addressing climate change is much greater than the cost that we’re paying right now to try to get ourselves off fossil fuels,” she said.

Cashman also highlighted the benefits for those participating in city programs.

“For those who participate in our city programs and make these upgrades to their homes, their energy bills go way down,” she said.

Over the last two years, 700 homes have been retrofitted in Minneapolis, and the franchise fee is larger for industrial customers.

Ahead of the council vote, Linea Palmisano acknowledged the burden on residents: “Let’s be mindful that this is a significant burden for residents, especially those with lower or fixed incomes,” she said.

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis City Council approves plan for George Floyd Square that allows transit access

Published

17 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Minneapolis City Council approves plan for George Floyd Square that allows transit access

December 12, 2025 / 10:21 AM CST
/ CBS Minnesota

The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday evening approved a redesign plan for George Floyd Square, capping off years of planning, public input and debate.

The council voted 9-4 to move forward with a plan that was backed by Mayor Jacob Frey and allows for transit access through 38th Street East and Chicago Avenue.

Under the plan, Metro Transit service will be restored along Chicago Avenue, but no vehicle traffic will cross the location where George Floyd was murdered more than five years ago. The plan allows for the intersection to be closed for public gatherings and expands space for memorials and art.

“Thousands of voices shaped this plan, and today we turned years of work into real progress,” Frey said. “Approving the flexible open option means we are finally moving forward together.”

Earlier this year the City Council voted to explore a pedestrian-focused concept for the busy south Minneapolis intersection, a decision that was vetoed by Frey. Frey argued that nearby property owners opposed a pedestrian plan and would not approve it, which is required by state law. Still, the council voted in February to override his veto 9-4.

Months later, the council ultimately decided to approve the open street design plan, though some members expressed their frustration with the decision.

“This council has been put in a position where there is no will or ability for our mayor and our administration to move on any other plan,” said Ward 12 Councilmember Aurin Chowdhury at Thursday’s meeting. “There’s no will to do pedestrian mall from them.”

Council President Elliott Payne, Vice President Aisha Chughtai, along with councilmembers Jason Chavez and Robin Wonsley voted against the plan.

The council anticipates construction to begin in 2026.

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Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis council’s costly encampment response plan passes, likely to be vetoed

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

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Minneapolis council’s costly encampment response plan passes, likely to be vetoed

Minneapolis City Council’s costly encampment response plan passes, likely to be vetoed

A controversial plan addressing homeless encampments, while getting enough votes for approval, may never see the light of day.

The Humane Encampment Response ordinance does and calls for many things, creating a heavy lift for the city of Minneapolis and needs a lot of public dollars — including providing portable bathrooms, hand washing station, needle disposal supplies, and more.

It also sets up a seven-day pre-closure notice and provides free storage, which city staff says alone would cost millions. The ordinance also includes ensuring people have access to services and shelter.

RELATED: Minneapolis City Council passes housing crisis policies as mayor expedites encampment closures

“We seek to address the public health and safety concerns,” Aisha Chughtai, one of the three council members, said during Thursday’s city council meeting. “It also ensures that unsheltered individuals are given the basic dignity of time to make plans before a closure.”

Her colleague, Linea Palmisano, was first to express opposition.

“I don’t know how we could suggest that we keep people in a situation where addiction, violence, trafficking — drug and sex trafficking and child trafficking — how that can be a humane response to encampments,” Palmisano said.

At the posting of this article, we did not receive a statement from council member Aurin Chughtai, who said she’s supplying one — we asked how she responds to those who feel the ordinance encourages encampments to form and why it does not include steps to address crime that unfolds in encampments.

The one who needs to sign off on the ordinance, Mayor Jacob Frey, is clear on his stance.

“I intend to veto it,” Frey told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, which will be effective as there was not enough support from council members to override it.

“I don’t know how anybody could argue with a straight face that that is safe, and that’s the right way to do this,” Frey said, adding, “I don’t want to turn back that progress on an ordinance that would essentially make homeless encampments much easier to start open and then much harder to close.”

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